Heater



July 7, 1931. J, L, HOWARD f 1,813,449

HHHH ER 1]. .HZl/@IMZ E11/wm July 7, 1931. J, L, HOWARD 1,813,449

HEATER Filed March l5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN L. HOWARD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO HEATER Application filed March 15, 1930.r Serial No. 436,205.

This invention relates to a heater designed primarily for heating peanuts while on dis play although it is to be understood that the apparatus can be used for any other purpose 5 desired.

One of' the objects of the invention is to provide a structure having an upper compartment for holding the articles to be heated and a lower compartment containing the i heating apparatus, means being employed in connection with the heating apparatus whereby a lamp will be lighted intermittently for the purpose of attracting attention to the merchandise.

l Another object is to provide a heating apparatus of simple construction utilizing a lamp for controlling the heat generated, said lamp also serving to illuminate the interior of the apparatus whether or not the intermittently operating lamp is used,

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the l details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

ln said drawings,

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is aview showing, in diagram, the electric circuit.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the casing of the apparatus which, as shown particularly in Figure 1, may be provided with a movable cover 2 whereby access can be had readily to the interior of the upper portion of the casing. Said upper portion ma7 be provided with transparent panels 3 through which the contents of the adjacent portion of the casing can be viewed.

A foraminous partition 4 is extended across the interior of the casing and divides it into an upper compartment 5 and a lower compartment 6. This partition has an opening 7 surrounded by an upwardly extending foraminous tube 8 open at the top and bottom. A post 9 is mounted in the lower compart- 5 ment 6 and extends close to the opening 7. Mounted -on this post is a support 10 for a socket 11 in which is seated an incandescent lamp l2.

Arranged within the compartment 6 is a heating unit 13, and a lamp socket 14 engaged by a lamp 15. A flasher is provided at 16 in this compartment and a suitable switch 17 is located in the wall of the casing where it can be actuated readily. 6

As shown particularly in Figure 3 the heating element 13 is in series with the lamp 15 and the circuit to the heating element and lamp is controlled by t-he switch 17. The lam p 12 and the flasher 16 are so connected to the 70 circuit that the lamp 1Q, can be dispensed with without affecting the circuit to the heating element and to the lamp 15. Y

In practice the compartment 5 is partly or entirely filled with the peanuts or other merchandise to be heated and dispensed and heat generated in the compartment 6 will rise through the partition 4 and also through the tube 8, heating the ent-ire compartment 5 and all of the contents. As the lamp 12 is in circuit with the flasher 16 it will he apparent that this lamp will be intermittently lighted so as to attract attention to the apparatus. It desired. however, the lamp can be moved without affecting the operatic-n of the heating element.

By varying the wattage of the lamp 15 the heat given olf by the unit 13 can be increased or reduced. Lamp15 not only serves to regulate the heat but also acts to illuminate the contents of the compartment 5 because light rays therefrom will pass through the partition l into the compartment 5.

The compartment 5 obviously can be used for storing peanuts or any other articles to be sold and these will be positioned around the central tube or flue S so that heat will be distributed to them not only from the tube but also upwardly from the partition and at the same time light rays will be visible between the articles so that t-hey can be Viewed readily through the transparent panels 3.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination With a` casing having a storage compartment, a heating compartment, and a foraminous partition between the compartments, of a foraminous ue extending from the partition into the storage compartment, a heating unit in the heating compartment, and a lamp in series With the heating unit for regulating the action of the unit and for illuminating the contents of the storage compartment through the partition.

2. The combination with a casing having a storage compartment7 a heating compartment, and a foraminous partition between the compartments, of a foraminous flue extending from the partition into the storage compartment, a heating unit in the heating compartment, and a lamp in series with the heating unit for regulating the action of the unit `and for illuminating the contents of the storage compartment through the partition, a signal lamp supported in the flue, and a flasher in circuit with the signal lamp.A

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiXed my signature. e

JOHN L. HOWARD. 

